The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has withdrawn Ike Uzochukwu, the Abia state resident electoral commissioner (REC), from conducting the forthcoming gubernatorial and state assembly elections in the state.
According to INEC, Uzochukwu endangered the electoral process by bungling logistics arrangements for the just concluded presidential and national assembly elections in the state.
The electoral body, in a memo issued on Tuesday, March 7, asked the REC to stay away from the governorship and the house of assembly elections in the state.
The commission directed Clement Ohia, the administrative secretary in the state, to immediately take full charge of all its activities in Abia state.
INEC also withdrew Nura Ali, Sokoto REC for failing to make declarations for all the national assembly seats in the state.
Hauwa Kangiwa, the administrative secretary of the commission in the state has been directed to take charge.
Festus Okoye,INEC national commissioner and chairman of voter information and education committee, while confirming the withdrawals of the RECs on Wednesday, March 8, said that the powers delegated to the RECs have been set aside, adding that they have been asked to stay away from the office to allow for electoral continuity.
“The commission will revisit their issues after the governorship, state assembly, supplementary elections,” Okoye said.
Recall that Mahmood Yakubu, INEC chairman, recently noted that officials responsible for the infractions in the presidential election would not be involved in the gubernatorial poll.
Yakubu said that it was imperative for the commission to review performances from the election and assess preparation for the forthcoming polls.
He also asked RECs to immediately initiate disciplinary action where evidence of wrongdoing has been established.